Tesla is poised to overcome a significant obstacle in China by collaborating with Baidu for enhanced mapping and navigation capabilities, according to sources familiar with the development, reports Bloomberg.
This partnership will allow Tesla to introduce advanced assisted driving features in China, leveraging lane-level navigation and mapping technology from Baidu, a Beijing-based internet giant and one of the few certified suppliers capable of supporting autonomous driving functions.
Reuters is corroborating the Bloomberg story, citing sources are saying the expanded Baidu deal would allow Tesla to use lane-level navigation for Full Self-Driving (FSD).
The collaboration was hinted at following an unannounced visit to China by Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, who is reportedly seeking approvals for the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) feature. This software, while requiring constant supervision and not fully autonomous, is part of Tesla’s strategy to bolster revenue through services like its FSD package, priced at $8,000 or available for a $99 monthly subscription in the United States.
During his visit, Musk met with Premier Li Qiang, a key figure in establishing Tesla’s largest global manufacturing hub in Shanghai. Additionally, Tesla has met China’s stringent data security and privacy standards, a critical step in addressing ongoing data security concerns, as confirmed by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Tesla, which switched to Baidu’s mapping services in China in 2020, aims to enhance these capabilities further to support more sophisticated self-driving features.